In the northwestern border region, the autumn wind is biting.
Yue Zhongqi stood in front of the makeshift military tent, gazing at the distant, snow-capped mountains with a furrowed brow.
Upon hearing the news of the Gansu earthquake, he immediately led a team of 1,000 people to assist local officials in rescuing disaster victims.
At this moment, the disaster area is bustling with activity. Soldiers are either carrying supplies or building temporary shelters, and their breath condenses into a thin mist in the cold wind.
"General!" A trusted aide strode over and said in a low voice, "His Majesty's secret letter has arrived."
Yue Zhongqi took the letter, removed the sealing wax, and quickly scanned the contents.
In the letter, Yongzheng ordered him to be stationed on the border and to be vigilant about the movements of the Dzungars.
He also emphasized the importance of both disaster relief and defense. He closed the letter, his gaze deep: "Pass down the order to strengthen border patrols, paying particular attention to the tracks of Dzungar scouts."
"Yes!" The trusted confidant accepted the order and left.
Yue Zhongqi turned and walked to the map, lightly tapping the border between Gansu and Xinjiang with his finger.
Although this place is some distance from the epicenter, the disaster situation remains severe.
He knew all too well that natural disasters were often followed by the menacing gaze of foreign enemies.
The Dzungar Khanate has always been unruly, and if it were to take advantage of the chaos to move south, the consequences would be unimaginable.
---
Meanwhile, at the Tibetan garrison camp.
The Fourteenth Prince, Yinzhen, unfolded Yongzheng's secret letter, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes.
The contents of the letter were exactly the same as those received by Yue Zhongqi: Be wary of the Dzungars and be prepared for war at any time.
He sneered and said to his adjutant beside him, "Order the entire army to train day and night, polish their weapons, and feed their horses well."
"If the Dzungars dare to come, they will never return!"
The lieutenant excitedly clasped his hands in a fist salute: "This subordinate will make the arrangements right away! The brothers have been itching to get started!"
Fourteenth Prince Yunzhi stood in the center of the training ground, his spear gleaming coldly.
"Brothers!" Yunti shouted, "Are your guns clean?"
"It's lit!" the soldiers shouted in unison, their voices echoing through the sky.
"Is the knife sharpened?"
"It'll be soon!"
"Good!" Yunti laughed. "We've been cooped up on this plateau for so long, our bones are practically rusting! If the Dzungars dare to come, we'll make sure they don't leave alive!"
The soldiers were filled with fervor, brandishing their weapons and shouting.
Yunti nodded in satisfaction, then turned to his deputy and said, "From today onwards, train day and night without any slackening!"
"Yes, sir!"
---
The disaster area in Gansu is in complete disarray.
Yue Zhongqi personally led a team deep into the epicenter to direct soldiers in rescuing buried civilians.
In the ruins, an old woman tightly embraced her grandson's body, her cries heart-wrenching.
Yue Zhongqi squatted down and said softly, "Old man, please accept my condolences. The imperial court has already allocated provisions, and the imperial physicians are on their way. We will make sure you are properly taken care of."
The old woman looked up, her cloudy eyes filled with despair: "Sir, we can't go on living..."
Yue Zhongqi was silent for a moment, then took off his cloak and draped it over her: "There is hope as long as you are alive."
He turned to the soldiers and ordered, "Speed up! Clear this wasteland before nightfall!"
As night fell, campfires flickered in the military camp.
Yue Zhongqi convened a meeting of his generals: "The Emperor has ordered that while providing disaster relief, we must also be vigilant against the Dzungars. Starting tomorrow, we will divide our forces into two routes: one to continue assisting the local areas, and the other to strengthen border defenses."
Deputy General Zhao Hu frowned and said, "General, there are many disaster victims now. If we divide our forces again, I'm afraid we won't be able to handle the situation."
Yue Zhongqi shook his head: "It is precisely because the disaster is so severe that we need to be even more vigilant against external enemies. If the Dzungars take advantage of the situation, the disaster victims will suffer even more."
He looked at everyone and said firmly, "As soldiers, it is our duty to protect our country. Tomorrow, the musketeer battalion will accompany me to patrol the border, while the rest of you will stay behind to carry out disaster relief."
The generals responded in unison.
---
In the Tibetan camp, Yunzhi's military training was in full swing.
On the drill ground, soldiers lined up in formation for practice, spears like a forest, arrows piercing the air.
Yunti personally demonstrated musket shooting, hitting the bullseye a hundred paces away with a single shot, drawing cheers from the crowd.
He shouted, "The Dzungar cavalry are brave, but have the men of our Great Qing ever been afraid? Remember, on the battlefield, only speed, accuracy, and ruthlessness can defeat the enemy!"
A young soldier asked excitedly, "Fourteenth Prince, when can we fight the Dzungars to the death?"
Yunti laughed loudly: "What's the rush? There's plenty of time to fight! What we need to do now is hone our skills!"
He patted the soldier on the shoulder, "Go, practice fifty more arrows!"
In the military camp, morale was soaring.
Yinzhen returned to his tent and wrote a reply to Yongzheng: "I have already prepared the army for war. If the Dzungars make any moves, we will surely strike them hard. The defense line in Tibet is as solid as a rock."
---
Inside the Forbidden City, Emperor Yongzheng was reviewing memorials from various regions.
The commander of the Sticky Rod Office hurriedly entered the hall, knelt down and reported: "Your Majesty, a secret report from the Northwest indicates that the Dzungar Khanate is indeed showing signs of troop deployment, but has not yet crossed the border."
Yongzheng's gaze turned cold: "Keep a close watch; do not let your guard down."
He put down his vermilion brush and asked Zhang Tingyu beside him, "Any news from Yue Zhongqi and the Fourteenth Brother?"
Zhang Tingyu cupped his hands and said, "General Yue has already divided his troops into disaster relief and defense forces, while the Fourteenth Prince is training day and night, with the entire army ready for battle."
Yongzheng nodded slightly: "Very good."
He looked out at the gloomy sky and murmured, "Natural and man-made disasters are coming one after another. I hope the people can get through this calamity and the situation on the border can be stabilized."
---
On the border of Gansu, Yue Zhongqi led the musket battalion on a patrol.
Suddenly, a scout reported: "General, we have spotted traces of Dzungar scouts ahead!"
Yue Zhongqi's eyes sharpened: "How many people?"
"There were about ten riders, seemingly scouting the terrain."
Yue Zhongqi sneered, "As expected, they couldn't hold back any longer." He immediately ordered, "Li Tiezhu, take your men and ambush them on both sides. Let them get close before you attack. Remember, leave them alive!"
This chapter is not finished, please click the next page to continue reading!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
